Expendable spray nozzle



June 1, 1965 w. D. KENNEDY ETAL 3,136,646

EXPENDABLE SPRAY NOZZLE Filed Nov. 27, 1963 steel nozzles in spray systems.

United States Patent Office 3,186,646 Patented June 1, 1965 3,186,646 EXPENDABLE SPRAY NOZZLE Wilfred D. Kennedy, Marion, Ohio, and Carl E. Sehiman, Stevensville, Mich; said Kennedy assignor to Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, Mich.

Filed Nov. 27, 1963, Ser. No. 326,412 6 Claims. (Cl. 239-602) This invention relates in general to an expendable, easily replaceable spray nozzle and more particularly to such a nozzle having novel coupling means.

The invention has application in many fields but is particularly applicable in the field of spray phosphating. In the phosphating process, a zinc phosphate solution is sprayed upon iron or steel surfaces to coat those surfaces with a thin layer of zinc phosphate which, when paint is later applied, causes the paint to adhere for much longer periods than when the paint is applied to bare metal surfaces. An excess of the phosphating solution is normally sprayed upon the bare metal parts being coated and is allowed to drain off these parts for recirculation through the spray system.

During the phosphating process ferric phosphate and calcium phosphate are formed which tend to form a scale on material with which they come in contact. This scale eventually restricts the orifice or flow passageway in the metal nozzles ordinarily used for this process so as to render the nozzles inoperable.

It has been the practice in the past to employ stainless The stainless steel nozzles are periodically removed and cleaned by immersion in an acid bath. While this cleaning process can be repeated several times, the nozzle eventually has to be replaced. Stainless steel is used because of its relatively high resistance to acid as compared toother suitable metals.

Stainless steel nozzles are expensive and due to the frequency of necessary replacements the expense is multiplied. Furthermore, the stainless steel nozzles are usually threaded and require tapping or other costly mountings in the phosphate solution supply pipes or headers.

It is an important object of this invention to provide an inexpensive expendable nozzle.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a nozzle which is easily insertable and replaceable and does not require expensive adapt-ing means.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a nozzle which is resistant to scale formation and capable of long life operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a noz zle having novel coupling means which permits easy insertion of the nozzle into a phosphating system and easyremoval from the system after use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be come apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the description in conjunction with the drawings in which identical parts are identified by like reference numerals.

' In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 -is a fragmenary perspective view of a phosphating system illustrating my invention.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary front elevational View partially in cross section showing a nozzle embodying the invention and illustrating a method for its insertion into a supply pipe.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary front elevational view partially in cross section showing a nozzle embodying the invention after insertion into a supply pipe.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of a nozzle embodying the invention taken substantially along line 44 of FIGURE 3.

As shown in FIGUREI a phosphating system, generally designated 10, includes a walled tunnel or chamber 11. Supply pipes or headers 12 are shown mounted along the sides and bottom of chamber 11 to provide a continuous supply of zinc phosphate solution. Illustrated spray nozzles 14 and 16 having distal portions 13 and 1'7, respectively are inserted into supply pipes 12 to provide means for coating metal articles such as 18 with zinc phosphate as they are passed through chamber 11. While only one nozzle is shown in each of supply pipes 12, additional nozzles may be used or required. Articles such as 18 are carried through phosphating system 10 by means of an overhead type conveyor generally designated by numeral 26. Conveyor 20 is of a type well known in the art and comprises a rail 22, trolleys 24 carried by the rail and a chain 26 attached to the trolleys 24 for driving them along rail 22. Chain 26 is driven by a sprocket (not shown) which in turn is driven by an electric motor (not shown). We have described only the basic elements of the zinc phosphating system 10 and the conveyor 20 since their details are not a part of the invention. I

Nozzles 14 and 16 are made of a tough, yieldable, deformable, plastic. material, preferably polypropylene or the like, which may be molded or machined Polyproylene is desirable from the standpoint of providing resiliency and deformability. In addition, we have found that nozzles composed of this material resist scale formation for from about three to six times as long as stainless steel nozzles. Furthermore, polypropylene or other suitable plastic-s are inexpensive which makes it commercially feasible to discard nozzles that may ultimately become inoperable due to scale formation even though the life of these nozzles is materially greater than those of stainless steel. To replace a nozzle, one needs simply to strike the nozzle with a hammer in a transverse direction and it will be knocked out of the opening of thepipe due to the deformation of that portion of the nozzle protruding into supply pipe 12. The nozzle'may also be removed by using a pull-ing tool of appropriate design. Then, a new nozzle may be inserted, as hereinafter described. If desired, the strength of the plastic material may be controlled so that the distal end of the nozzle may be broken ofi by hammer blows thereby permitting the proximal portion 29 to be pushed into the spray header 12 which may then be periodically cleaned at less frequent intervals.

Referring now to FIGURE 2, nozzle 14 is shown being driven by hammer blows into a drilled opening 28 in supply pipe 12. If desired the nozzle may be pressed into the opening 28 rather than by the illustrated method. Opening 28 is drilled and reamed to provide a smooth surface which is engaged by circumferential lands 30 on a cylindrical base portion of nozzle 14. The cylindrical proximal base or coupling portion 29 of nozzles 14 and 16' includes a. collar 32 which acts as a stop member when the nozzle is fully inserted into supply pipe 12, (FIGURE 4). Immediately subjacent collar 32 are a series of thread-like lands 3t) and grooves 34. As described above, the lands 30 are adapted to engage the surface of opening 28 to provide a seal which precludes leakage through opening 28 when the zinc phosphating system is in operation. Grooves 34 permit lands 30' to deform if opening 28 is of a smaller diameter than lands 3t It is in fact preferable that opening 28 be of a somewhat smaller diameter than lands 30 to insure a tight seal upon insertion of the nozzles 14 and 16 into supply pipe 12. The preceding manner of sealing the coupling makes it unnecessary to provide cooperating lands and grooves on the surface of opening 28.

In addition to lands 30, a larger land 35 is provided to define the lowermost portion of the nozzle coupling Q means. Land 36 is of greater diameter than lands 3!) and also is of greater longitudinal depth. The lower sur-' face 37'of land 36 is angled to provide a camming stir-- face which aids'in deforming land 36 when it is first inserted into opening 28. In addition, opening 28 may At 90 degree intervals about the circumference of land 35, in .verted V-shaped notches 38 are provided to permit land be 'chamferred to aid in the" insertion process.

36 to deform more easily as it passes through opening 2 8 while being inserted into supply'pipe 12. The number of notches and their shape may be varied, for ex-: ample, to two inverted U-shaped notches at 180 degree intervals or to any number and configuration which permits land 36 to deform. Land 36 is shown deformed in FIGURE 2 and in substantially normal configuration in V FIGURES 3 and 4. a

for ready insertion into and removal from said aperture Land 36 is an important means for positioning nozzles,

14 and 16 within opening 28 of supply pipe 12. The arcuate inner surface 40 of pipe 12 does not provide a complete seat for land '35, but only two point contact as will be understood from FIGURES 3 and 4. Contact points 42 are in 180' degree relationship as viewed in nozzle in said aperture.

FIGURE 3 and as seen in FIGURE 4 there is no con tact betweenland 36 andpipe 12 along the uppermost longitudinal inner surface of the pipe. However, collar 32 makes line contact at 44 with the outer longitudinal surface 46 of pipe 12 also in 180 degree relationship but in 90 degree relationship to contact points 42.

Since there is only line. and point contact between the nozzle coupling means and pipe 12 itis preferable that all points of contact be tight so that the nozzle will not be free to move after insertion.

Land 36 provides a means by which tight contact is maintained. In FIGURE 2, land 36 is shown in a deformed configuration, held this configuration by the walls of opening 28. In FIGURE 3 the outermost cirand including a plurality of yieldable spaced lands adapted toseal and anchor said nozzle within said aperture in said spray header conduit, said proximal end also defining a plurality of circumferentially-spaced, axially-extending notches interrupting at least one but less than all of said lands for facilitating deformation of said proximal end when forced into and out 'of said aperture without impairing the sealing. relationship between said nozzle and saidspray headerconduit or the anchorage of said 2. The invention of claim 1 in which one of said. lands on said proximal end is larger than the remainder of said lands and is provided with a. camming surface interrupted by said notches to facilitate deformation of said enlarged land upon its insertion intosaid aperture.

3. The invention of claim 2 further including a stop member formed on said body portion and cooperating with said larger land to assist in the positioning of said proximal end in said spray header conduit (upon insertion of said nozzle therein.

' 4. An expendable, replaceable, spray nozzlecomprising: a body portion defining a fluid passagetherethtrough;

cumference 48 of land 36 has passed the lower edge of a opening 28 and has been urged toward its normal configuration (111610. the resilience of the plastic material. As nozzle 16 is driven further into opening 28 land 36 continues to expand, maintaining slidable contact at points 42 along an angled upper'surface 50 of land 36.

When nozzle 16 has been driven into opening 28 far enough for collar 32 togmake contact with pipe 12 along.

lines 44, land 36 has preferably not yet regained its normal, configuration. well as at points 42 since land 36 will continue to be urged toward its normal configuration, exerting pressure at points 42 to maintain contact at both points 42 and' lines 44. It will be noted that the nozzle coupling means of the invention, in this way also, compensatefor dimensional variations which may be encountered in practice. While we have described the coupling means in connection with arcuate surfaces, it will be understood that the coupling means are equally effective where planar sur.

faces are involved. Furthermore, the base portion'need not be cylindrical, but may be of any, configuration which cooperates with on opening of like configuration.

Having described the invention as related to an exemplary embodiment it is intendedthat the invention not be limited by details of the description, but be construed broadly within the scope of the accompanying claims,

This insures contact at lines 44 asv and a resilient, deformable coupling portion including;

a base member, a plurality of peripheral lands and grooves about said base member, and a proximal land extending radially outwardly of said plurality of peripheral lands, said proximal land having outwardly angled surfaces and defining a plurality of spaced notches.

5. The nozzle of claim 4 wherein said resilient, deformable coupling portion includes a stop member between said body portion and said plurality of peripheral lands and grooves.

I 6. The nozzle of claim 4 wherein said resilient, de-

formable coupling portion-is cylindrical.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,531,749 11/50 Stokes et al. 285222 2,649,884 8/53 Westover 151 41.75 2,788,047 4/57 Rapata "141-4115 2,865,596 12/58 Monnig.

2,979,239 4/61 Collins 222-570 3,081,877 3/63 Jakobs et a1 239587 3,111,269 11/63 Hervig et al. 239309 OTHER REFERENCES 7 German printed application, 1,055,869, April 23, 19 59.

EVERETT w. KIRBY, Primary Examiner,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,186,646 June 1, 1965 Wilfred D. Kennedy et al.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent reqiiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as correctedbelow.

In the grant, lines 2 and 3, for said Kennedy assignor to Whirlpool Corporation, of Benton Harbor, Michigan," read assignors to Whirlpool Corporation of Benton Harbor, Michigan, lines 12 and 13, for "Carl E s himan, his heirs or assigns, and Whirlpool Corporation, its successors" read Whirlpool Corporation, its successors in the heading to the printed specification, lines- 4' and 5, for said Kennedy assignor to Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, Mich." read assignors to Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, Mich.

Signed and sealed this 19th day of October 1965.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER testing Officer Commissioner of Patents 

4. AN EXPENDABLE, REPLACEABLE, SPRAY NOZZLE COMPRISING: A BODY PORTION DEFINING A FLUID PASSAGE THERETHROUGH; AND A RESILIENT, DEFORMABLE COUPLING PORTION INCLUDING: A BASE MEMBER, A PLURALITY OF PERIPHERAL LANDS AND GROOVES ABOUT SAID BASE MEMBER, AND A PROXIMAL LAND EXTENDING RADIALLY OUTWARDLY OF SAID PLURALITY OF PERIPHERAL LANDS, SAID PROXIMAL LAND HAVING OUTWARDLY ANGLED SURFACES AND DEFINING A PLURALITY OF SPACED NOTCHES. 